Times of India: Mumbai: Monday, 4 March 2024.
Seven months after a Supreme Court order, state on Monday issued a govt resolution (GR) directing all departments to disclose as much information on their own to the public at regular intervals under Section 4 of Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Section 4 states that all public officers must give as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communication so that the public doesn’t have to go through the RTI Act route.
While dealing with a PIL seeking proactive or suo motu web-based disclosure of information as per Section 4 of RTI Act, Supreme Court had in Aug 2023 held that the purpose and object of the statute can be accomplished only if the principle of accountability governs the relationship between “right holders” and “duty bearers”. It had said “suo motu disclosures of information are the heart and soul of RTI Act” and implementation of requirements of Section 4(1)(a) should be taken up on a mission mode with specific timelines to all public authorities.
RTI activist Anil Galgali said unless govt implements Section 4 in its letter and spirit, RTI applications will keep piling up. “Courts should penalise govt departments that fail to follow this order.”
The GR has directed the departments to appoint officers for quarterly publication of information, and a transparent third-party audit should be conducted. It made the collector the coordinating officer, who has to mention the action taken in the annual self-assessment report.
Seven months after a Supreme Court order, state on Monday issued a govt resolution (GR) directing all departments to disclose as much information on their own to the public at regular intervals under Section 4 of Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Section 4 states that all public officers must give as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communication so that the public doesn’t have to go through the RTI Act route.
While dealing with a PIL seeking proactive or suo motu web-based disclosure of information as per Section 4 of RTI Act, Supreme Court had in Aug 2023 held that the purpose and object of the statute can be accomplished only if the principle of accountability governs the relationship between “right holders” and “duty bearers”. It had said “suo motu disclosures of information are the heart and soul of RTI Act” and implementation of requirements of Section 4(1)(a) should be taken up on a mission mode with specific timelines to all public authorities.
RTI activist Anil Galgali said unless govt implements Section 4 in its letter and spirit, RTI applications will keep piling up. “Courts should penalise govt departments that fail to follow this order.”
The GR has directed the departments to appoint officers for quarterly publication of information, and a transparent third-party audit should be conducted. It made the collector the coordinating officer, who has to mention the action taken in the annual self-assessment report.
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